A very expressive player, Jackson differentiated himself from other vibraphonists in his attention to variations on harmonics and rhythm. He was particularly fond of the twelve-bar blues at slow tempos. He preferred to set the vibraphone's oscillator to a low 3.3 revolutions per second (as opposed to Lionel Hampton's speed of 10 revolutions per second) for a more subtle vibrato. On occasion, Jackson would also sing and play piano professionally.
He was discovered by Dizzy Gillespie, who hired him for his sextet in 1946. He quickly acquired experience working with the most important figures in jazz of the era, including John Coltrane, Woody Herman, Howard McGhee, Thelonious Monk, and Charlie Parker. In the Gillespie big band one of his jobs was to play in a quartet with John Lewis, Percy Heath, and Kenny Clarke while the horn section took a break from the demanding high-register horn parts. This group became the Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ), which had a long independent career of 20 years until disbanding in 1974 over financial problems (though it reformed in 1981). Jackson then toured alone, performing in various small combos.
From the mid-70s to the mid-80s, Jackson recorded for Norman Granz's Pablo Records, including the classic, "Jackson, Johnson, Brown & Company" (1983), featuring Jackson with J.J. Johnson on trombone, Ray Brown on bass, backed by Tom Ranier on piano, guitarist John Collins, and drummer Roy McCurdy.
He also guested on recordings by many leading jazz, blues and soul artists, such as B.B. King, Ray Charles, etc.
His composition "Bags' Groove" ("Bags" was his nickname, from the 'bags' under his eyes from staying up late) is a jazz standard. He has been featured on the NPR radio program Jazz Profiles.
Come Sunday
Milt Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lord, dear Lord above, God almighty,
God of love, please look down and see my people through.
I believe that God put sun and moon up in the sky.
I don't mind the gray skies
'cause they're just clouds passing by.
Heaven is a goodness time.
A brighter light on high.
Do unto others as you would have them do to you.
And have a brighter by and by.
Lord, dear Lord above, God almighty,
God of love, please look down and see my people through.
I believe God is now, was then and always will be.
With God's blessing we can make it through eternity.
Lord, dear Lord above, God almighty,
God of love, please look down and see my people through.
The song "Come Sunday" by Milt Jackson, Joe Pass, and Ray Brown is a soulful and spiritual plea to God to look down and help those in need. The lyrics begin with an invocation to the Lord, asking for divine intervention to help "my people." The singer then expresses a personal belief in God as the creator of the sun and moon, and accepts that clouds and gray skies are simply passing phases, not to be feared or rejected.
The song is filled with religious imagery and encourages listeners to treat others with kindness and compassion, echoing the Golden Rule. The singer believes that a better future awaits us all, in a place of "goodness time" and "brighter light on high." The final verse reaffirms the singer's faith in God as an eternal presence that can help us overcome any obstacle.
Overall, "Come Sunday" is a moving tribute to faith, hope, and strength in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh
A word expressing strong emotion or excitement.
Lord, dear Lord above, God almighty, / God of love, please look down and see my people through.
A plea to God to provide help and guidance for those in need.
I believe that God put sun and moon up in the sky. / I don't mind the gray skies / 'cause they're just clouds passing by.
A belief that God created the universe and that even difficult times will pass.
Heaven is a goodness time. / A brighter light on high.
A description of Heaven as a place of goodness and light.
Do unto others as you would have them do to you. / And have a brighter by and by.
A call to treat others with kindness and respect, and the promise of a better future.
I believe God is now, was then and always will be. / With God's blessing we can make it through eternity.
A belief in God's eternal presence and the power of His blessings.
Lord, dear Lord above, God almighty, / God of love, please look down and see my people through.
A repeated plea to God for assistance and guidance.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DIZZY GILLESPIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind